Sic Alps at Double Happiness

Among the many Bay Area bands digging up gold from classic garage and psych sounds, Sic Alps used to stand as the skuzziest. But like neighbors Ty Segall and The Fresh & Onlys, they’ve opted for a cleaner, even softer sound on their new self-titled LP for Drag City. Closer “See You on the Slopes” could reasonably be called a piano ballad, and even the more lumbering moments are captured in glorious high fidelity.

The band’s appeal, though morphed here, has not decreased. They remain incredibly proficient at imbuing leftfield pop songs with gnarly bite. And it stands to reason that their show Saturday at Double Happiness will find them as loud as ever, refinement be damned.